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Coal Newsroom

SAN FRANCISCO (April 1, 2010) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today a major new guidance document that provides the coal industry and coal-state regulators with “clarity” regarding the permitting of mountaintop removal coal mining. This comes just days after the EPA blocked the Clean Water Act permit for the Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan County, the largest mountaintop removal permit in West Virginia history. Following is a statement by Amanda Starbuck of the Rainforest Action Network.

SAN FRANCISCO (September 10, 2009) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it intends to block the Clean Water Act permit for the Spruce No. 1 Mine in Logan County, the largest mountaintop removal permit in West Virginia history. Following is a statement by Amanda Starbuck, Rainforest Action Network’s Global Finance Campaign Director.

WASHINGTON- In an attempt to further pressure EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to enforce the Clean Water Act and halt mountaintop removal coal mining (MTR), activists early this morning erected two 20-foot-tall, purple tripod structures in front of the agency's headquarters.

PHILADELPHIA— As part of a growing movement against the practice of mountaintop removal coal mining, dozens staged a rally today at Philadelphia’s EPA Region 3 building. Those in attendance were asking the EPA to take immediate action to veto new Mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining permits, which Region 3 is largely responsible for. The participants successfully met with EPA representative, Jeffrey Lapp, and delivered a letter to Shawn Garvin, the EPA’s regional administrator.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - Activists with Mountain Justice, Rainforest Action Network and other groups planned protests at Environmental Protection Agency headquarters and across the country Friday to demand the end of mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia.

An online map showed more than two dozen planned events from California to Maine, including demonstrations at a regional EPA office in Philadelphia and a New Jersey office of JPMorgan & Chase Co., a bank environmentalists say is the biggest financier of the destructive form of strip mining.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Obama administration on Friday stepped up its efforts to curb environmental damage from surface coal mining, announcing plans to give 79 permit applications in four states additional scrutiny.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it wants to make certain the proposed mines won't cause water pollution and violate the Clean Water Act. An initial review concluded all 79 probably would affect water quality and require additional study, the EPA said.

CHARLESTON, W.Va.- West Virginians and their allies, including Robert Kennedy, Jr., rallied today at the headquarters of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to call for an end to mountaintop removal coal mining, starting with an end to the blasting of Coal River Mountain. Coal River Mountain, the site of a proposed wind farm, is becoming a line in the sand for those demanding an end to the mining practice.

WASHINGTON-- Hundreds are participating today with Mountain Justice, Rainforest Action Network and other environmental groups in nationwide protests demanding an end to mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia. As part of the national day of action, 14 people staged a sit-in at the EPA headquarters in Washington, DC. They were joined by approximately 50 coalfield residents and allies who held a rally in front of the building.

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will hold dozens of mountaintop removal permits for further review. Following is a statement by Michael Brune, Executive Director of Rainforest Action Network (RAN):

“Today was a moment of truth for the EPA. By recognizing the irreversible destruction caused by mountaintop removal coal mining, the EPA has taken an important stand in support of the people and ecosystems of Appalachia. The agency seems to recognize that there is no environmentally safe way to demolish mountains.